Bronx registered nurses may soon be headed to arbitration as contract negotiations with the city come to a halt.

Registered nurses employed by the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation have been working without a contract for more than three years. The nurses declared an impasse in their talks after an unsuccessful 10-hour negotiating session with a mediator in January.

Bronx nurses say the city hasn?t addressed concerns about staffing, patient safety and the ability to maintain a stable nursing workforce. The nurses? union adds the city wants nurses to work more shifts per year and offered increases below the rate of inflation. The nurses hope an impartial panel will be appointed and arbitrations hearings begin as soon as possible.